Q1 2022 Newsletter

WORKER’S COMP CLAIMS RISE IN 2021 Worker’s Comp Claims Rise In 2021, the Worker’s Compensation claims increased for our county. We must all take extra precautions against Happy 2022 injury that may cause the County to file a claim. While Employee Information Wall Workers Compensation provides a benefit, it actually costs the County and increases premiums for Yummy Chicken Tacos future premium cost calculations. An The ancient Babylonians are Christmas Tree Drop Off injured employee also causes a lapse in said to have been the first productivity, a shortage of personnel people to make New Year’s Locations and makes your peers pick up your resolutions, some 4,000 years Adams County Holiday Spirit workload while you are gone. ago. They were also the first to Most worker’s compensation claims hold recorded celebrations in Thank You Plow Drivers come from slips, falls, and lifting injuries. ZEE Medical Update In the latest national statistics, the rate of honor of the new year—though Notes from NIRMA – Stay injury & illness were 2.8 per 100 full-time for them the year began not in workers. According to OSHA, the most January but in mid-March, Healthy common workplace injuries include when the crops were planted. Space Heaters Sprains and Strains, Soreness or pain, During a massive 12-day Policy Updates cuts, religious festival known as 2022 Winter Outlook lacerations, punctures and fractures. Akitu, the Babylonians Chad Engle from NIRMA loss prevention crowned a new king or gave these tips to lessen the impacts of Worker Injury: 2022 Fitness Goals - Timely and complete snow removal reaffirmed their loyalty to the Milestones - Use of Ice melt reigning king. They also made Hi I’m “ - Walk like a PENGUIN on slippery surfaces promises to the gods to pay - Watch where you walk to avoid tripping/slipping their debts and return any Birthday Wishes - Use handrails objects they had borrowed. - Don’t carry things you can’t see over These promises could be - Maintain dry floors considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If Any event that could possibly result in a -claimIf iatgisaitnosothtehaevcyo, ausnktyfosrhhoeulpld! be reported as the Babylonians kept to their word, their (pagan) gods would soon as possible. Report events even if they say they aren’t injured or admit it was their bestow favor on them for the coming year. fault. Despite the tradition’s If you are driving a county vehicle, “never admit anything, never commit religious roots, New Year’s resolutions today are a mostly to anything, other than notifying the other driver that you will notify our secular practice. Instead of making promises to the gods, insurance company and they will contact you.” Supervisors are responsible for reporting the incident using our Incident-Accident-Injury report. The non-employee incident report Chad Engle form can be used if a person comes in and says, “I just fell in the Loss Prevention parking lot,” or “I ran over a big rock or a rock was thrown into my car.” Specialist NIRMA most people make resolutions only to themselves, and focus purely on self-improvement (which may explain why such resolutions seem so hard to follow through on). According to recent research, while as many as 45 percent of Americans say they usually make New Year’s resolutions, only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals.

The unit on our west wall serves as an information center for employees. This wall contains information and forms needed by employees for such things as insurance, deferred compensations information, employee handbooks, new hire packets, etc. Much of this information is also available on the County Intranet site but paper copies are also available in our office on this wall. Chicken Tacos are the prefect EASY weeknight dinner. These OVEN BAKED chicken tacos have lots of flavor and none of the stress! TRIED and TESTED by yours truly, I would give them 4 Stars! Easy and Tasty, but leftovers aren’t so good! Ingredients All you do: • 1 tbsp Olive Oil 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick • ½ Pound Cooked Chicken spray. • 1 oz Taco Seasoning • ½ cup Diced Onion 2. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium skillet. • 1 can Diced Tomato 3. Add onion to skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is • 1 can Chopped Green Chiles • 10 Taco Shells translucent and fragrant. • 8 oz Refried Beans 4. Stir in the chicken, taco seasoning, tomatoes (FULLY DRAINED), • 2 cups Mexican Blend Cheese • Toppings (Lettuce, Sour Cream, and green chiles (FULLY DRAINED) *see note. Stir to combine fully. Reduce to simmer and allow to cook for 5-8 minutes. Salsa, jalapenos.) 5. Place the taco shells in the baking dish, standing up. I was able to fit 10 taco shells in the dish by adding 2 on each side. 6. Bake the taco shells for 5 minutes by themselves to allow them to crisp up. Remove from the oven. 7. Spoon 1 tablespoon of beans into the bottom of each taco shell. Top with the chicken mixture, almost to the top of each shell. 8. Sprinkle each shell generously with shredded cheese, the more the better! 9. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until cheese is fully melted and the edges of the shells are browned. 10. Remove from the oven and top with your favorite items such as jalapenos, sour cream, cilantro, and salsa.

Christmas Trees look great in our homes, \" they do not look great in our DITCHES! Tree disposal sites will be at the Aquacourt, Duncan Field, and the south side of Libs Park. Adams County Gets in the Holiday Spirit! As part of our 2nd Annual Ramona Thomas, and the Clerks “Another Night\" By Jim Buckbee. Ugly Sweater Contest, Office worked again to collect toys for the Angel Tree Program. When the snow flakes fly Jessica Brock, 2020 winner, and the wind blows so cold, chose Shari Brie’s Holly She reported that “This is Jolly attire as the 2021 probably the largest collection It's the sound of steel winner! we have had since participating that curls my toes. in the Angel Tree Program!” It's a long night ahead, and that's my foe. Effective immediately, ZEE Medical Services will not be used per the Safety Committee for any supplies other than ‘First Aid Kit’ As I drop my plow and head down the road items. The cost has increased too much from ZEE Medical in comparison to purchasing from several other avenues. If supplies are I only pray that my lights will be bright. needed, please compare two or more retailers pricing and purchase As the snow flakes dance I strain at the sight, from lower priced items. Each dept. is going to be responsible for paying for any over-the-counter drugs or items that are not supplied in But my chains bite deep into the ice And I look for that guiding light a basic first aid kit. Band-aids can be purchased from Eakes for less That makes everything all right. than ZEE Medical for example. The snow piles high, But that's all right, Because I'll just hit it With all my might And shove it over to the right. The sky finally lightens And I know it's all right, Because I just made it through Another night.\" THANK YOU! Adams County Plow Drivers!

New Years Day - December 31st Martin Luther King Day – January 17th President’s Day – February 21st NOTES FROM Colds and flus can run swiftly through our families and work groups. These illnesses can lead to time away from work, irritability or more serious effects. Fortunately, there are some steps we can take to help reduce the chances of catching or spreading a cold or the flu to others. So please pay attention; your health and safety is important to us. HAND HYGIENE Hand washing is the single most effective practice people can do to prevent diseases. Unfortunately, many people either do not wash their hands or do not do so effectively. We should wash our hands before eating, and after using the toilet, blowing our nose, coughing, sneezing, touching garbage or public touch points like door handles and handrails. It is good to wash hands both before and after preparing food or when caring for an ill individual. • Wet hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), then turn off the tap and apply soap. • Lather hands by rubbing them together with soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between fingers and under nails. • Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds, consider humming the happy birthday song to yourself from beginning to end twice to approximate 20 seconds. Many people scrub or rub their hands too quickly. • Rinse your hands under clean running water. • Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. • Use hand sanitizer if soap is unavailable. • Apply hand sanitizer to palm of one and apply through all surface of the hands and continue rubbing hands together until they are dry. RESPIRATORY HYGIENE OR COUGH ETIQUETTE Cough etiquette refers to the practice of covering your cough or sneeze to prevent disease transmission. This should be done when coughing or sneezing. Ideally you cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, dispose of the tissue after use and wash hands. If a tissue is unavailable, cough into the back of your elbow or sleeve, not your hand. Again, wash your hands when able. If you cough into your hands by mistake, be sure to wash your hands promptly; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth until you wash your hands. . DISINFECTANTS Keyboards, computer mice, door handles, railings and phones are common transmission points for germs. These should be regularly disinfected, when possible, particularly during peak cold and flu season. When using any disinfectant, be sure to follow appropriate product directions and personal protective equipment, such as gloves or eye protection if warranted. Please remember that disinfectants may not kill all germs.

UPDATES The safety committee has concerns with the safety of personal Space Heaters used within our offices. Space Heaters pose great dangers if POLICY CONCERNING CLOSURE left unattended, left on, located close to trash or plugged into an extension cord. OF THE COURTHOUSE AND Right now, there is not a policy AGAINST the use of a space heater, however PLEASE take extra precautions when using them. COUNTY OFFICES OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE Separate policies apply to the Highway, Maintenance and Sheriff’s Departments when the Courthouse is closed due to conditions which are dangerous to the health and safety of county employees or the public. The Adams County Courthouse and county offices outside the courthouse shall remain open on all designated work days. When extraordinary conditions exist which are dangerous to the health and safety of county employees or the public, the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson, if appropriate, of the Adams County Board of Commissioners may declare that the Courthouse and county offices outside the courthouse shall be closed. If the Courthouse and other county offices outside of the courthouse are open, all employees are expected to be at work. The County Board Chairperson shall determine if the Courthouse will be closed due to adverse weather conditions or other conditions which are dangerous to the health sand safety of county employees or the public. KHAS-TV and KHAS Radio shall be notified of such closure by 7:00 a.m. Employees will not be individually notified. In the existence of conditions which prevent the Courthouse from being open, employees will be excused from working and will receive paid time off. Offices of appointed officials, except the Highway and Maintenance Departments which are covered by separate policies, shall not close except pursuant to a declaration of the County Board Chairperson as stated in this section, or otherwise with the permission of the County Board Chairperson.

2022 WINTER OUTLOOK Mike Moritz Warning Coordination Meteorologists, NWS Hastings 2022 FITNESS RESOLUTION Scrap the New Year’s Resolutions This is the time of year when it feels like we should resolve to “fix” something about ourselves. “I’m going to lose weight…eat better….exercise more” – all good things certainly, but these resolutions all come from looking at what is wrong with us instead of what is right with us. When it comes to thriving in all 5 areas of our wellbeing (career/purpose, social, financial, physical, community), sometimes it can be helpful to look at what we are doing well and build on that. If you have high social wellbeing and low physical wellbeing, is there a way to engage friends or family in exercise challenges or weekly meal prep sessions? If your purpose/career wellbeing is thriving but your community wellbeing is low – can you organize a volunteer day at work for something that gives back to your community? Most of us usually have at least one area of wellbeing that we feel pretty good about that gives us energy. Look for ways to take that energy from one area and apply it to an area where you may be struggling. So instead of focusing on what is “wrong” with you this year, figure out the things that are right, and find ways to incorporate that into the other areas of your wellbeing! If you need help with this, don’t hesitate to contact your wellness coaches at Mary Lanning. Email your favorite coach or just simply Becky Sullivan e-mail: [email protected] and one of us will be excited to help you! Be your best YOU in 2022!!! Manager / Your MLH Wellness Team Wellness Dept. Mary Lanning

` Pamela Augstine – 8 Years Diane Martin – 6 Years YEARS Shannon Bird – 14 Years Twila Bankson – 8 Years Diane Marty – 8 Years Dale Curtis – 12 Years David Bergin – 9 Years Jody McLaughlin – 9 Years Chris Long – 10 Years Pamela Deal – 6 Years Tom Reichert – 6 Years Brooke MacDonald – 12 Years Mike Stromer – 7 Years Deanna Thaut – 14 Years YEARS Raquel Maar – 6 Years Ramona Thomas – 14 Years Danielle Wahl – 15 Years Brenda Chrise Tom Krueger Jon Marsh Leroy Samuelson Rebecca Tockey 26 Years 23 Years 21 Years 20 Years 23 Years 42+ YEARS of SERVICE! Kevin Mauck Doug Schenk Dennis Zarek 43 Years 31 Years 32 Years The Adams County IT Department would like to welcome our new GIS Technician Matthea Niemoth who joined us in November 2021 to take over the role as our resident mapping specialist. Her duties at the County includes skilled technical work maintaining County base maps, preparing maps from geographic data for the County and public user mapping requests, converting geographic information to digital data, maintaining records and files, preparing maps, and any related work. If your department would like any mapping related projects done you can contact her @ Ext 5195 or email her @ [email protected] Hi, I'm Matthea. I grew up in Milford, NE and received my GIS certificate from SCC. I worked at gWorks for three years before getting hired here in November. While gWorks is a great company, I really wanted to move closer to family and was excited about the opportunity to work with just one county. I've already been able to see the direct impact of my work and have enjoyed meeting everyone in the courthouse. I look forward to being able to improve the information available to the public and streamline some processes within the courthouse. I'm excited to get to know more people and become a part of this community! WELCOME MATTHEA!

Winter Olympics Superbowl February 4th – 20th February 13th January February March Alex Klein – January 4th Mike Stromer – February 2nd Cassie Baldwin – March 1st Seth Sorensen – January 9th Pamela White – February 6th Dennis Zarek – March 5th Richard Kemp – January 10th Daniel Heuertz – February 8th Virginia Long – March 5th Shari Kriz – January 12th Pamela Augustine – February 12th Chris Long – March 6th Dale Curtis – January 14th Sarah Davis – February 12th Heath Lemke – March 7th Shari Marsh – January 18th Richard Fahrenholtz – February 13th Phillip Petr – March 8th Eric Walston – January 18th Luis Johnson – February 13th Randy Borrell – March 11th Michael Shuck – January 23rd Jackie Russell – February 20th Tyler McAndrew – March 12th Latisha Morrow – January 25th LaDonna Reams – February 21st Mary Jo Keenan – March 14th Glenn Kemp – January 25th Doug Schenk – February 22nd Shon Lieske – March 14th Brian Everhart – January 26th Coral Calhoun – February 23rd Emily Juranek – March 23rd Shari Brei – January 28th Nathan Benorden – February 24th Erle Seybold – March 26th Hollie Stark – February 26th Dora Leyva – March 28th Robert Kissinger – March 28th This newsletter is provided for you, by you! Please share Dan Furman – March 30th questions, ideas, birthdays, anniversaries, special events, or upcoming events! To nominate a department to spotlight, or recognize one of our great employees, or to submit an article. please email: [email protected] Look for the next upcoming Issue in: APRIL 2022!